Method to reduce switch threshold of soft magnetic films

ABSTRACT

In magnetic memories it is important to be able to switch the states of the memory elements using minimal power i.e. external fields of minimal intensity. This has been achieved by giving each memory element an easy axis whose direction parallels its minimum surface dimension. Then, when the magnetic state of the element is switched by rotating its direction of magnetization, said rotation is assisted, rather than being opposed, by the crystalline anisotropy. Consequently, relative to the prior art, a lower external field is required to switch the state of the element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the general field of magnetic devices with particular reference to magnetic memory cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In MRAM (magnetic random access memory), a cell's magnetic state is switched (i.e. its direction of magnetization is rotated) by an external magnetic field. This field is generated by a current through a program line on a chip. It is desirable to lower the switching threshold of MRAM cells so that the write current, and thus the chip power, can be reduced. The free layer in an MRAM cell is typically a soft magnetic film having a rectangular or oval shape.

[0003] The direction of the magnetization, M_(i) in a magnetic soft film is determined by the lowest energy state of the film. In the sub-micron geometry film, the shape anisotropy H_(d) dominates over the crystalline anisotropy H_(K). The direction of the H_(K) is usually called the easy axis direction of the film. Its direction is set by a small magnet in the deposition chamber during film deposition. The direction of the film's magnetization M would normally parallel the largest dimension of the cell to minimize demagnetization effects arising from the shape anisotropy due to its dominance in small geometry film, rather than the direction of the crystalline anisotropy. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 where memory element 11 is a rectangle of length 12 and width 13. As a result the magnetization would parallel the direction of 12. Nonetheless, the direction of crystalline anisotropy, or the direction of the easy axis, still plays a role in the magnitude of the switching field of the cell. The present invention discloses a method and structure that lowers the requirements for the switch field of the soft film. It is applicable to the MRAM cells.

[0004] A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:

[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,633, Abraham et al. show a MRAM and discuss the easy axis of the free layer. Abraham et al. also show related MRAMs in U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,718 and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,228. U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,644B (Tran et al.) shows a MRAM with free and pinned layers in anti-parallel directions while Sun discusses switching thresholds in U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,223 B1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It has been an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a magnetic memory element whose state may be switched using a lower field than is required to switch the state of a memory element of the prior art.

[0007] Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention has been to provide a process for manufacturing said memory element.

[0008] Still another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention has been that said process not require substantive changes to the processes presently in use for the manufacture of magnetic memory elements.

[0009] These objects have been achieved by giving said magnetic memory element an easy axis that parallels the minimum surface dimension of the element. Then, when the magnetic state of the element is switched by rotating its direction of magnetization, said rotation is assisted, rather than being opposed, by the crystalline anisotropy. Consequently, relative to the prior art, a lower external field is required to switch the state of the element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows a magnetic memory element of the prior art.

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates the formation of an easy axis along a direction normal to the long direction of the film.

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates the rotation of the magnetization when an external field is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the key feature of the present invention which is that, at the time the memory element 11 is formed, it is given an easy axis along direction 21 which is normal to the direction of the long axis (14 in FIG. 1). Note that although we describe the invention in terms of elements having a rectangular shape, it will be understood that it can be applied to any element having at least two planar dimensions that are different, such as ovals, diamonds, and eyes.

[0014] The significance of this change can be seen in the following analysis:

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 3, we compute the angular change of the direction of magnetization 31 for a memory element of thickness t, magnetization M, when an external field H_(ext) is applied parallel to the Y-axis:

[0016] (a) when the easy axis is in the Y direction (present invention):

tan θ_(y)=(H _(ext) +H _(K) +Mt/L)/(Mt/W)

[0017] (b) when the easy axis is in the X direction (prior art):

tan θ_(x)=(H _(ext) +Mt/L)/(Mt/W+H _(K))

[0018] Since tan θ_(y)>tan θ_(x), it follows that, to achieve the same degree of rotation of the magnetization in a magnetic memory element, a lower H_(ext) may be used if the easy axis is normal to the element's longest dimension instead of parallel to it.

[0019] In a cell array, to change the cell state, say from M pointing east to west, one would need to apply two external fields: one Hx (pointing west) and Hy (pointing north). The external magnetic field Hy will rotate the magnetization M to an angle away from the x-direction. The external field Hx will complete the switch.

[0020] Based on a uniform rotation model, the switching asteroid of a rectangular film can be described as

Hx ^(2/3) +Hy ^(2/3) Ho ^(2/3)

[0021] and

Ho=Mt*(1W−1L)+/−H _(K)

[0022] where the sign in front of H_(K) is determined by the direction of the crystalline anisotropy. When H_(K) (the easy axis) is along the long axis, positive sign applies, and when along the short axis, negative sign applies. Thus, the switching threshold is lower when H_(K) is along the short axis.

[0023] We now describe a process for manufacturing the memory element described above. The process begins with the deposition of a layer of a soft magnetic material (such as NiFe, CoFe, CoFeB, or CoNiFe on a substrate (to a thickness between about 5 and 50 Angstroms) and then patterning said layer to form a memory element 11 having a minimum dimension 13 and maximum dimension 12, as seen in FIG. 2. In the case where a multiple magnetic soft film stack is deposited, the direction of the easy axis of each layer can be made different by changing the direction of the magnet inside the deposition chamber.

[0024] In a second embodiment of the invention, memory element 11 is a stack made up of multiple layers of magnetically soft material separated layers of a non-magnetic material such as Cu, Ru, Pt, Ag, or Au, to a thickness between about 5 and 30 Angstroms.

[0025] The advantages of using a stack of several magnetic layers is that the total volume of the soft magnetic material increases and the thermal stability of the memory cell improves. By having the magnetization M in the soft magnetic material in the stack arranged in the anti-parallel direction, the net moment is lowered, which translates to lower switching threshold. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic memory element, comprising: on a substrate, a layer of a soft magnetic material of a shape that has a minimum and a maximum dimension, parallel to said substrate, whereby there is a magnetization of said memory element in a direction parallel to said maximum dimension; and said memory element having an easy axis whose direction parallels said minimum dimension
 2. The magnetic memory element described in claim 1 wherein said shape is an oval, a diamond, or an eye.
 3. The magnetic memory element described in claim 1 wherein said maximum dimension is between about 0.1 and 1.5 microns.
 4. The magnetic memory element described in claim 1 wherein a value of less than about 50 Oe, for said external magnetic field, will be sufficient to cause a rotation of said memory element's direction of magnetization.
 5. The magnetic memory element described in claim 1 wherein said soft magnetic material is NiFe, CoFe, CoNiFe, or CoFeB.
 6. The magnetic memory element described in claim 1 wherein said layer of soft magnetic material has a thickness between about 5 and 50 Angstroms.
 7. A magnetic memory element comprising: a stack of alternating soft magnetic and non-magnetic layers on a substrate; said stack having minimum and maximum dimensions parallel to said substrate; and said stack having an easy axis whose direction parallels said minimum dimension whereby requirements to switch said memory element's direction of magnetization by an external magnetic field are reduced.
 8. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein said magnetic memory element has a shape that is a rectangle, an oval, a diamond, or an eye.
 9. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein rotation of said memory element's direction of magnetization is through an angle of between about 80 and 100 degrees.
 10. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein a value of less than about 50 Oe, for said external magnetic field, will be sufficient to cause said switch of said memory element's direction of magnetization.
 11. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein said soft magnetic material is NiFe, CoFe, CoNiFe, or CoFeB.
 12. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein said non-magnetic material is Cu, Ru, Pt, or Ag.
 13. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein each of said layers of soft magnetic material has a thickness between about 5 and 50 Angstroms.
 14. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein each of said layers of non-magnetic material has a thickness between about 5 and 30 Angstroms.
 15. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein all layers of soft magnetic material in said stack have their easy axes parallel to said minimum dimension.
 16. The magnetic memory element described in claim 7 wherein at least one layer of soft magnetic material in said stack has an easy axis that is not parallel to said minimum dimension.
 17. A process to reduce a switching field in a magnetic memory element, comprising: (a) depositing on a substrate a first layer of a soft magnetic material having a first easy axis direction; (b) depositing a layer of a non-magnetic material on said first layer of soft magnetic material; (c) on said layer of non-magnetic material, depositing a second layer of soft magnetic material whose easy axis direction is permitted to be different from said first easy axis direction; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) one or more times, thereby forming a stack; and (e) patterning said stack to form a memory element having minimum and maximum dimensions along said substrate and an easy axis parallel to said minimum dimension.
 18. The process described in claim 17 wherein said soft magnetic materials are NiFe, CoFe, CoNiFe, or CoFeB.
 19. The process described in claim 17 wherein said non-magnetic material is Cu, Ru, Pt, Au, or Ag.
 20. The process described in claim 17 wherein each of said layers of soft magnetic material is deposited to a thickness between about 5 and 50 Angstroms.
 21. The process described in claim 17 wherein each of said layers of non-magnetic material is deposited to a thickness between about 5 and 30 Angstroms.
 22. The process described in claim 17 wherein said magnetic memory element has a shape that is a rectangle, an oval, a diamond, or an eye. 